Why Preparing a home correctly before a paint job is essential.

 Properly preparing the exterior of a home to be painted is something that may take even longer than the painting itself. The house will look a little rougher after this process, but it is crucial for a lasting paint job. Proper prep work includes but not limited to the following things, scraping, caulking, sanding, pulling nails out, applying wood filler, filling gaps with backer rod, putting in nails or screws, priming, masking, small carpentry work, taping things off, moving furniture around, pressure washing and any other services your painter may provide in order to begin painting the home. These are the main things that will be performed in order to prepare the house and they all play a big role in the final product. If these steps are not done well or some skipped, then you're not going to have a quality lasting product and probably will start to see defects after only a year or 2. The quality of products also plays a role but, in this case, we will just discuss proper home preparation etiquette.

The reason prep work on the home before paint is applied is so important is because it will be the foundation of the entire project. The home is the canvas and a properly set up canvas will make for a better final product. Scraping and caulking are some of the main things that need to be performed and might also take the longest amount of time in the prep process. Removing loose and peeling paint along with filling all cracked joints and seams as needed on the house with the proper caulk cannot be skipped. If paint isn't scraped, then you will get wood rot in those areas as well as paint peeling not long after the project is completed. Caulking will fill seams and joints, so water and moisture won't get into the home. Pressure washing will remove excess dirt, dust and debris from the house, so it is clean, dull and ready to be worked on. The surfaces to be painted or stained needs to be clean because if its dirty it will not allow for proper adhesion.

Masking when using a sprayer is a necessity. This will prevent overspray and reduce chances of paint getting on things it's not supposed to. No one wants to clean paint spray off of windows or even worse your car! Masking off decks, patios, fences, doors, windows and the ground are just a few examples. Using the proper tape for the job is also something that needs to be taken into consideration. Is it tape meant for interiors and exteriors? Is it meant to stay on for 3 days or a long time without leaving residue after its pulled? Does the tape work for rough surfaces or delicate surfaces? Many people overlook these details or they simply dont know, but its just another reason to hire a professional.

Overall, for a professional who knows what he is doing these steps are pretty straight forward. They will know about how much time they need for prep and what products to use. If there is anything that needs to be brought to your attention or addressed right away on the home, a pro should let you know. They should offer suggestions and options on how you'd like certain things done. The preparation work is absolutely essential and can be the difference between a mediocre job and one that will last 6-10 years, as intended.